Cholesterol and heart disease risk could be slashed by this golden hot drink
Chamomile tea is a herbal infusion made from dried flowers and hot water, and has been used for thousands of years as a traditional medicine.
Brits are renowned for their love of tea, guzzling down a staggering 100 million cups daily. However, consuming something other than the traditional brew could come with multiple health benefits.
Research has highlighted that chamomile tea, often praised for its sleep-inducing qualities, might also be a heart hero by helping to reduce cholesterol levels. Chamomile tea is crafted from the dried flowers of the Asteraceae plant family and has been cherished as a natural remedy for millennia.
This herbal elixir is brimming with flavonoids, known for their anti-inflammatory and potential anti-cancer benefits, alongside essential minerals and vitamins our bodies crave. Harvard Health experts explained: “Chamomile tea is more than just a calming beverage to consume before bedtime.
“Chamomile is an herb taken from the flowers of the Asteraceae plant family. People around the world have been using it as a natural remedy for several health conditions since ancient times.”
The experts further detailed the drink’s potent mix of phytochemicals: “Chamomile contains a variety of bioactive phytochemicals, notably flavonoids, which function as antioxidants. It also contains small amounts of minerals and vitamins, such as potassium, calcium, carotene and folate, among other nutrients.
“Research studies suggest several possible chamomile benefits, including a lower risk of death from heart disease, immune system support, and possible protection against some cancers.”
A meta-analysis published in Molecular Medicine Reports has linked the flavonoids found in chamomile tea to improved cardiovascular health. The report stated: “Flavonoid intake (analysed in tertiles) was significantly inversely associated with mortality from coronary heart disease and showed an inverse relation with incidence of myocardial infarction.”
However, it also noted that a large-scale trial is needed to evaluate the “potential value of chamomile in improving cardiac health”.
Separate research, published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, discovered that chamomile tea helped reduce “bad” cholesterol levels – a risk factor for heart disease – in diabetes patients. The study revealed: “Chamomile tea significantly decreased concentration of HbA1C, serum insulin levels, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with control group.”
The authors concluded: “Chamomile tea has some beneficial effects on glycaemic control and serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetes patients.” Other studies have suggested that chamomile tea could assist with menstrual symptoms, blood sugar control, osteoporosis, inflammation, cancer, sleep and relaxation, cold symptoms, and skin conditions.
However, according to Medical News Today, those with a history of severe allergies, individuals on warfarin or other blood-thinning medications, and pregnant women should steer clear of the drink.
Reference:
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/health/cholesterol-heart-disease-risk-tea-30514781
